Assault cases are leading the 2020 domestic violence chat with 144 out of a total of 384 reported cases according to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service report in the Upper West Region.

Meanwhile, the threat of death, failure to provide the basic needs of health and life, and offensive conduct were next in the chat with 35, 34, and 21 cases respectively.

Causing harm and stealing recorded 20 cases each whilst abduction recorded 17 cases during the year under review.

A total of 16, 15, and 11 cases were recorded for causing harm, the threat of harm, and publication of obscene material respectively.

Also, defilement recorded 10 cases whilst denial of access to a child, unlawful child removal, and rape recorded five cases each for the year under review.

Again, act tending recorded four cases; unlawful ejection and denial of responsibility to pregnancy recorded three cases each whereas two cases each were also recorded for abortion, indecent assault, and defrauding by false pretense.

A case each was also recorded for child stealing, exposing a child to danger, human trafficking, kidnapping, physical abuse, sexual abuse, inducing tenant to quit, the compulsion of marriage, assault by imprisonment, and psychological abuse.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr. Adongo Apiiya, the Upper West Region DOVVSU Officer, noted that out of the total number of 384 cases reported all were true, adding that so far 302 of them were closed.

He said 30 cases were sent to court out of which four were convicted and another four were discharged.

ASP Apiiya also disclosed that 22 cases were awaiting trial whereas a total of 48 cases were under investigation.

The Regional DOVVSU Officer lamented the unwillingness of the public to report cases because of the “Tijaabunyeni” (We are all one) Syndrome in the region.

He noted that whereas child streetism was common in Wa Township, the compulsion of marriage was also more pronounced in Wa East District and urged parents to be more responsible towards their children in order to give them a better future.

ASP Apiiya highlighted the need to sensitize the public to appreciate the law and act accordingly, stressing the need to adequately resource DOVVSU to embark on a public education campaign to curb domestic violence.